Failed body fat percentage on form O-220

I recently had to take the form O-220 body fat test because I was weighed incorrectly at my DODMERB test. (The lady who administered the test could not make the scale work and put me down at an incorrect weight.)
I took the form O-220 test and it said I failed because my body fat is 31%. This makes absolutely no sense because I am 6'2 and 3/4 (74.75 in.) and I am 194 lbs. I am within the weight standard AND a sports physical I took this summer said I was only 24% body fat. (There's no way I could have gained that much weight). I am a basketball player, too, in pretty good shape.
Will I be disqualified for this? What should I do? All help is apreciated.

I suppose you're within the weight standard if you interpolate between 74" (194 pounds) and 75" (200 pounds).
Since you're 74.75" tall, that would make 198 your maximum allowable weight, but 4 pounds from max weight is sort of balancing on the razor's edge, there.

The body fat test is to verify if that close-to-the-max weight you're carrying is "more muscle than fat", in which case you get a pass.
If your body fat percentage is 18% or less for males and 26% or less for females, then you're good.

A standard BMI calculation is going to render a result of 24.4 for your height and weight. The O-220 calculator
adds data for waist size, neck size, hip size, and activity level. It is those factors that change the BMI.

Losing enough weight to take you well under the maximum weight, will also change those measurements.

Our annual workplace 'wellness' evaluation typically is +/- 10% for my height and weight measurements. Sure seems like a basic skill to get height and weight readings properly but seems to befuddle many health professionals. Makes for an interesting graph of my height over the past 10 years . . .

My DD just went through the same thing. The letter that followed said that if they find her competitive they “could” ask her to measure again. She was 4 lbs over the weight, and is also an athlete. We’ve hired a trainer to try to get her under the weight threshold just in case USMA wants her measured as well.

I suppose you're within the weight standard if you interpolate between 74" (194 pounds) and 75" (200 pounds).
Since you're 74.75" tall, that would make 198 your maximum allowable weight, but 4 pounds from max weight is sort of balancing on the razor's edge, there.

The body fat test is to verify if that close-to-the-max weight you're carrying is "more muscle than fat", in which case you get a pass.
If your body fat percentage is 18% or less for males and 26% or less for females, then you're good.

A standard BMI calculation is going to render a result of 24.4 for your height and weight. The O-220 calculator
adds data for waist size, neck size, hip size, and activity level. It is those factors that change the BMI.

Losing enough weight to take you well under the maximum weight, will also change those measurements.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the input here. Is it still possible for me to get in to USAFA? Basketball season is starting soon and I lose weight every season. Also, the test of my app is strong as far as leadership and grades and SAT scores.

I suppose you're within the weight standard if you interpolate between 74" (194 pounds) and 75" (200 pounds).
Since you're 74.75" tall, that would make 198 your maximum allowable weight, but 4 pounds from max weight is sort of balancing on the razor's edge, there.

The body fat test is to verify if that close-to-the-max weight you're carrying is "more muscle than fat", in which case you get a pass.
If your body fat percentage is 18% or less for males and 26% or less for females, then you're good.

A standard BMI calculation is going to render a result of 24.4 for your height and weight. The O-220 calculator
adds data for waist size, neck size, hip size, and activity level. It is those factors that change the BMI.

Losing enough weight to take you well under the maximum weight, will also change those measurements.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the input here. Is it still possible for me to get in to USAFA? Basketball season is starting soon and I lose weight every season. Also, the test of my app is strong as far as leadership and grades and SAT scores.

Click to expand...

Are you a recruited athlete? If so, I’d say the chances are good for a re-tape in the spring.

[QUOTE="wannabe_falcon_kid]Thank you for the input here. Is it still possible for me to get in to USAFA? Basketball season is starting soon and I lose weight every season. Also, the test of my app is strong as far as leadership and grades and SAT scores.[/QUOTE]

Anything is possible.
If questions come up during the application process - you answer them in a timely manner - and you move on.
It's a process that is not a sprint, but a marathon. You have to push on and get the information submitted and hope for the best.

In the mean time - if weight is not a problem during the basketball season - then that level of activity needs to continue throughout the balance of the year. One thing that will be a continuing theme through your tenure at USAFA and after commissioning as an officer, is annual and quantifiable good physical fitness. Height/weight ratios and BMI will be a part of that calculation, along with passing the PFT.

I recently had to take the form O-220 body fat test because I was weighed incorrectly at my DODMERB test. (The lady who administered the test could not make the scale work and put me down at an incorrect weight.)
I took the form O-220 test and it said I failed because my body fat is 31%. This makes absolutely no sense because I am 6'2 and 3/4 (74.75 in.) and I am 194 lbs. I am within the weight standard AND a sports physical I took this summer said I was only 24% body fat. (There's no way I could have gained that much weight). I am a basketball player, too, in pretty good shape.
Will I be disqualified for this? What should I do? All help is apreciated.

Click to expand...

My state is like yours, I took the O-220 test and got the following today "Based on the measurements submitted, your calculated body fat of 21% exceeds the Air Force Academy entrance standard of 18% for males. If it is determined that you are otherwise competitive for an offer of appointment, the Admissions Office will consider you for a waiver and/or ask that you be re-measured. Please ensure that your file is complete by your deadline so that you may be reviewed for an appointment. The Admissions Office will review all files in mid-March. In the meantime, we recommend you continue an active fitness program and maintain a healthy diet. No further action is required with respect to your body fat measurement unless you are contacted by our office."

I am not sure if I will have to take another test or I qualify for a waiver. I already have received a LOA from USNA but USAFA is my first choice.

There is definitely something odd going on with the USAFA body fat assessment. DD is 5' 7" and weighs 134 pounds. Her body fat percentage on every online calculator, including Army and Navy is 25 or less. She cleared DoDMERB with a "Commission Qualified" rating. Yet she received a preliminary notice to have a body fat assessment performed.
So she made an appointment, had the assessment completed, and the physician's office uploaded the data. We figured everything was settled, because the data confirms a body fat percentage if 25.
No such luck. Today she received a letter advising that her body fat percentage is 28 and exceeds the limit of 26. This is literally impossible. In order to have that high a percentage, she would have to weigh almost 180 pounds. I would be amused if she was not so concerned. The letter also said that if she "was otherwise competitive", the admissions board would consider her for a waiver".
She has emailed her admissions counselor and the head coach with whom she has a written participation agreement, asking for their assistance. She also included a copy of the signed assessment conducted by the physician. So we are hopeful this obvious processing error will be resolved.
Does anyone have a similar experience, or have advice as to additional action to take to fix this?

Update: the elevated body fat percentage resulted from a data entry error - DD'S height was misreported. The error has been corrected on DoDMERB and DD now has a second, updated qualification letter for all the SAs. Still waiting on update of her status on USAFA portal, but that should happen eventually.

Bottom line is that you should not blindly trust that the out of compliance body fat percentage is accurate. If you believe an error has occurred, gather your evidence and reach out to Admissions. The error, if in fact one exists, should get corrected.

When I had to take my body fat assessment, I fell less than a percent over, technically disqualifying me at 27% for females. However, I was under the weight limit at 126.5 lbs at 5' 00" since I had lost the few pounds I was over at DoDMERB 3 months prior (completely my fault since I wore a heavier sweater and pants while I got weighed). Does anyone know what to do about this? I contacted my admissions counselor about it, but it's always the same "you'll have to wait until March." My evaluator did put a note in my file regarding this concern as he clearly could tell I am by no means overweight, just muscles. I will probably just have to wait at this point, but it's hard to think that this could potentially disqualify me.